Sony has launched four GPS-enabled 18MP CMOS zoom compacts, ranging from the 16x DSC-HX10V all the way up to the 30x DSC-HX200V. The DSS-HX20V adds a 20x zoom to the 10V's specs and the HX30V gains WiFi on top of that. All four CMOS cameras offer nine creative processing filters and latest fast AF which the company says will focus in as little as 0.1sec and 0.2sec in low light, they also have high-res 920,000 dot LCDs. There's also a less-expensive 16MP CCD 16X zoom model, the DSC-H90. All of the cameras feature at least 27mm equivalent wide-angle lenses.

The four CMOS cameras feature the company's latest fast AF which interprets the depth of the scene before you take a shot, to ensure it moves its lens in the right direction when you try to take an image. This combines with fast processing and a fast read-out sensor to offer the short focus times promised. The DSC-HX20V, 30V and 200V also offer the latest image stabilization that corrections for camera rotations around the lens axis.

GET CLOSER TO THE ACTION WITH NEW HIGH-ZOOM SONY CYBER-SHOT CAMERAS

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 27, 2012 – Sony's new "H-Series" high-zoom Cyber-shot cameras make it easy to capture crisp, beautiful photos and HD videos from a variety of distances. Ideal for travel photography or simply capturing everyday content, the five new models include the DSC-HX200V, DSC-HX30V, DSC-HX20V, DSC-HX10V and DSC-H90 cameras. The HX30V and HX20V models will each feature a new, ultra-thin 20x optical lens, which enhances zoom capabilities while still maintaining a small, compact body. Additionally, the HX30V will feature Wi-Fi® capabilities, allowing for seamless transfer of photos to compatible smartphones, tablets or televisions and sharing via popular social networking services.

"Consumers want versatility in a compact camera," said Yosuke Tomoda, director of the Cyber-shot business at Sony Electronics. "By focusing on slim, stylish designs while adding advanced image sensors, strong zoom capabilities and new opportunities to share content socially, we continue to push the boundaries of the category."

The new 20x zoom "AA" (advanced aspherical) lens element in the HX30V and HX20V models produces outstanding results with a design drastically smaller than comparable 20x lenses in previous models. The thinly-designed lens, which requires highly sophisticated glass molding to create, allows the camera chasses to remain as compact as possible. In addition to its strong zoom capabilities, the new "AA" lens can focus at a minimum distance of approximately 1 cm for stunning, clear macro shots.

The new DSC-HX30V model features Wi-Fi® capabilities, allowing it to link directly and transfer content to a variety of compatible devices including smartphones, tablets and televisions. Using the new PlayMemories™ Mobile application from Sony, images can then be shared easily from the host device on Facebook®, YouTube® and other popular sharing sites. The Play Memories app is currently available for free download on both the iTunes® app store and Android Market™.

High-Zoom, High-Resolution

The new HX200V, HX30V, HX20V and HX10V cameras all have a new Sony 18.2 MP "Exmor R" CMOS sensor, the highest resolution sensor currently offered in the mainstream "point and shoot" market. The new sensor teams with an advanced BIONZ® processor to deliver blazing fast AutoFocus speeds of approximately 0.13 seconds in daylight and 0.21 seconds in low-light shooting situations (in case of fastest model, measured at 3 EV). Additionally, the new cameras feature "Clear Image Zoom" digital zoom technology, which boosts optical zoom to 2x virtual capabilities (i.e. 20x optical to 40x "Clear Image Zoom") while maintaining full resolution.

The high-end HX200V features a 30x optical zoom (60x "Clear Image Zoom"), with the HX30V and HX20V cameras each offering 20x optical zoom (40x "Clear Image Zoom") and the HX10V model offering 16x optical zoom (32x "Clear Image Zoom"). Each of these new models has "Optical Steady Shot" to reduce any blurring caused by camera shake during shooting – even with the zoom extended - as well as some creative photographic settings.

Product Specs, Pricing and Availability

The new assortment of high-zoom "H Series" cameras will be available at Sony retail stores and online (www.store.sony.com) as well as other authorized retailers throughout the Sony dealer network. Detailed specifications are below:

• The DSC-HX200V camera will be available in black this March for approximately $480. Features include:

Comments

I just bought an HX30V and I found at least two major flaws with this camera (and I'm not a serious photographer):1. The location of the flash, plus the length of the zoom lens, creates a nasty shadow on the bottom right of the image when shooting closeup with flash (the flash is located in the upper left, creating the shadow on the bottom right).2. Some of the Scene post-processing are so "computer intensive", might as well call them "Manga Mode". In some cases, particularly in low light, there were a bunch of white blotches that came from nowhere, skin colors were reduced to two tones, artifacts from one side of the image were copied to another side of the image, etc.

WiFi is nice (since we're nowadays too lazy for sneaker-net), but this is a camera first and I think Sony failed miserably (even though the zoom, image stabilization and outdoor shots are great)

Dear Sony .. HX9V was the worst scam i had in my whole life ... and the same story again is here this one with no RAW and extreme JPEG compression , and electronically fixed 3 or 8 or 11 F-stops ..and no manual white balance control or manual exposure control your non-responsive useless customer support and last but not least no frameware update even with existing problems

I look forward to the new sony cameras, I'm extremely disappointed..Sony, can always sell junk at high prices.I prefer to buy a camera made ​​in 2006 with a sensor with 1.6 and the rest of my money to get Iphone or Nokia n8

I promise you that I will not buy any more P&S cameras that are based on 1/2.3" sensors! So none of these cameras will be coming home with me.Got it?..............................................Basically, I am agreeing that too. First few things I look for when I come in DPR... 1) Sony got any new camera(s)? 2) Is it HX? (although I am open to what else Sony got, main thing is quility HD video, along with good camera) 3) how long is the (optical) zoom? 4) Finally, is it still annoying 1/2.3"

Be aware, if you think you would/could raise the price if you throw a slightly bigger sensor, then don't bother. We have been waiting for so long for a mere larger sensors in P&S (long zoom) cameras. Nice to have 18MP, BUT must have step-up sensors.

Makes me think how do Sony lab do cameras? 1/2.3" is like cars with 13" tires, many want 14" for small cars! Get out of 1/2.3"! Change staffs if you have do.

because these cameras are viewed here mostly by SLR owners who are updated by the technology, the IQ is pretty bad;but when viewed by newbies and people who only prints 6Rs and does not pixel peep,for them these are amazing cameras..

I don't believe that any normal individual would make the effort required to distinguish between the dosens of P&S models available from Sony and Nikon. The only people that make any sense of these letter combinations HZ/X/V/S/P/L and 000 000 000 numbrs are Sony and Nikon marketing "specialists" .... and this is because they are PAID to do it!

Nikon has 7 S models, 2-3 P models, L models, AW model and the projector model. I have never been able to get my head around the Sony numbering system. I don't even want to think about Panasonic and Samsung.

Why not cut down to three models each, make the choices for the customers. Apple proved this can be done, and actually I think this is one of their greatest strengths!

As a beginner, amateur photographer, I am very disappointed to see that these sensors are so tiny. This is all marketing hype and buzzwords, for a very normal and predictive update of a for-the-masses very ordinary consumer line. I see nothing new or special here.

A sample at ISO 1600 is obviously much more meaningful:http://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/Cybershot-DSCHX20V-4063/highres/DSC00292_1330479654.jpgThe sample gallery:http://www.ephotozine.com/article/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-hx20v-hands-on-sample-photos-18605

There is no way on earth Sony can make money from 5 distinct P&S zoom cameras, certainly not in a market with so many similar models, and definitely not in a market where consumers will be more apt to spend their next discretionary income on a tablet or a smart phone. The fact that most of the models employ the same 1/2.3" sensor, and other ingredients, does not offset the confusion. The race for megapixels, which remain the standard average buyers apply to screen cameras, is lost anyway, if the Nokia 41mp phone camera leads the pack. At least Nokia had the smarts to employ a larger sensor and wider base aperture.

I am skeptical that any of the new models will cure the sluggish menu, mode control, inter-shot delays, or movie button response of the preceding HX models.

Very well said. I think it's just a competition for shelf-space... if you have a nice brand name (like "sony") and enough models, maybe you have better chances of gaining market share on the limited and prized real-estate on store shelves and catalogues on computer screens.

I was slightly hopeful about this camera that sony failed about pic quality big time in hx9v since it paints not takes photos even in base iso in some occasions, you expect them to change somethings. But after seeing this photo:

I think how bad you can fail! Anyhow you can buy it for simplest p and s occasions with 20x reach. Still have to consider Panasonic FZ150 or wanna consider more compact body canon announced also new compact zooms that will certainly perform better than this in stills and not fail you too much for videos too.

But hey, that photo was shot at ISO 5000!At ISO 1600 things get remarkably better, see here from the same source: http://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/Cybershot-DSCHX20V-4063/highres/DSC00292_1330479654.jpg

You douche... THAILAND FLOODED do you have any concept of what that did to the factories of Sony, Nikon, Western Digital, et al.? Have you no sensitivity? I'd like to see how many months it would take you to turn your life around after all your possessions are erased off the Earth.

Any company that puts all its eggs in one basket (in this case, production facilities on a flood plain) deserves what it gets: trouble. The poor people (employees) who can't afford to live anywhere but on flood-prone sites are a different matter. Unfortunately, many will rebuild in spots that future floods will destroy again.

Dark goob, calling someone with whom you disagree a "douvhe" says more about you than about me. I KNOW about the damn floods already. But compare the way Nikon dealt with them in terms of keeping customers aware of difficulties and timelines for delivery with Sony's non-response, and you end up with a company that has neither respect nor any regard for its customer base. Sony is a company that deserves to fail.

APS-C = NEX or a65. However, some fixed lens APS-C with zoom up to perhaps 150mm would have been interesting. Trouble is, with the deficit in NEX7 or a77 production, no new ASP-C devices are likely to be feasible (or available) for a long time.

Too many cameras, too many pixels... This is why I HATE when people ask me to recommend a P&S to them. "Let me get back to you in about 3 weeks, after I've read a million reviews on the 300,000 camera options available." Ugh.

What reviews? Seriously? There are tons of reviews on numerous websites for cameras. You can also drive yourself insane watching all the camera reviews by users on YouTube. Or you can drive yourself even more insane by reading all the Amazon reviews.

And that's exactly my point: it's ridiculous to try and recommend a "best" camera option to people who inquire.

The only thing that's really interesting is whether they fixed their broken image compression algorithms or not. All the compacts of last year had excellent specifications, but the pictures turned out to be horrible unless viewed at low resolution.

Even most of the older Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z series of cameras included a alpha/Minolta type iISO hotshoe for external flashes (always handy to have), and these didn't support RAW just like the the HX200V.

My fist camera was DSC-W150 back in 2008. Its still a decent camera that i also have the underwater housing.

BUT Sony changes cybershot model range so often (now it takes less than a year !) it made me a bit sad, to have "the old toy" back in these days. I got my camera in August 2008, and the new models were on after 3 months !!! And it was another challange to figure out water housing after 6 months from my purchase, because the camera was already "an old model" that was hard to figure out further accessoies...

Compact cameras are a dying breed. They are getting killed by camera phones below them, and small MILC cameras above them. Aside from the highest end models (like the S100, LX5 and XZ-1) they will cease to exist in a few more years.

So the marketing departments take over and start stuffing more megapixels, more zoom range, more scene modes, more gimmick features, and more of everything else except image quality.

Because it is physically impossible to provide better image quality when building a 30X zoom based on a tiny sensor.

All of these cameras are a total waste of money for most people.

Get a good camera phone... or just buy another lens for for your MILC camera. You will be better off.

Consumer-grade cameras will be killed by camera phones, but enthusiasts will still find a niche for a camera that's focused on photography. Camera phones still suffer from horrible shutter lag, lack of manual controls, and many other technical faults photographers care about but consumers don't have a clue about. Phones don't shoot in RAW, have nasty compression artifacts, poor shadow detail, the list goes on and on. When you look at the engineering needed to create a camera such as the Canon S95, I don't see phone manufacturers stepping up to the bar to do it. They want to provide data access to download games, video, music, and anything else they can charge for to make a profit. Photos are user-created content, and don't fit the business model of phone manufacturers. Real cameras let The People create content. In the hands of a competent person, the content quality is far better with a device designed specifically for that task. That's why I hope they survive.

I don't see your point ( I am not talking about 100% sharp, 100% best camera)and I have no idea about that, my point is, that we always can do better and you can't know if less zoom or whatever camera was ever at that limit or not !!!

They are good cameras designed for million others who are less critical. Sony is one of the most innovative companies. Ever heard of the NEX and SLT cameras? And what do Nikon & Cannon offer? Actually, I am a fan of micro 4/3, CSC now. (I also have many other cameras like most of you here.)

Did a 2 week trip in southeast Asia using a Panasonic G3 and Sony HX5V. Didn't shoot RAW at all. Exposure, color, speed and focus were good. Strong supplementary features of the HX5V were: GPS, panorama, zoom range, low light perf and battery life. Both were excellent, reliable, light weight travel cameras. They met my (lowered) realistic expectation and purpose of posting them on SkyDrive. The photographer's skill will more than compensate for a little less capable camera or IQ.

Francis, for clarification, Sony lost billions of Yens, or millions of US $.

It took Panasonic 3 generations on the DMZ ZS series to include both Tv and Av modes ... maybe Sony will get it right on the next generation ...... Actually, even the ergonomics of the new models look inferior to the HX9V ....As mentioned, cell phones can handle most "party-type" & indoor photography .... but none have included even medium range optical zoom ...... which could be done with moderate relaxation of the "ultra-thin" obsession .....

If the idea is going to places like parties, concerts or just wanna have some camera with you extra reach and dont wanna have large prints these things are awesome. I cannot carry my d7000 everywhere and if you dont add a fast lens to it you will stuch with kit 18-200. I believe these cameras will be better than hx9v which was really good in this range. I may think about having one to carry around for videos easy panoramas etc

Not a lot of difference visible. Extra zoom more pixels, small design changes. Hopefully they've added more control over noise reduction and faster menu changes and if so bring out updated firmware for the Hx9v or I will buy a Canon or a Fuji next time!. Do they even read forums at Sony?

Am I the only one or others are also feeling same, between HX200V and HX100v only difference I see is increase of MP from 16 to 18, apart from that everything else is exactly same. Atleast they should have gone 24mm wide from 27mm.

Obviously Sony were worried that the HX100V images were not mushy enough and you could maybe make out a blade of grass 1 foot away. I would think with this you will need macro close up to see a blade of grass on the lawn. Presumably also anything that is not directly lit in sunlight will be as black as pitch.

No matter though, I am sure they will sell in droves and users will soon be billing and cooing over each others HX200V picures on the Sony forum soon enough.

Compacts are terrible these days. Stuffed with too many poor-quality megapixels on tiny chips, massive noise reduction, even in full daylight and base ISO, and painfully slow lenses that keep getting slower and slower, while high ISO usage is only enabled by massive noise reduction that starts at base ISO.

I suggest you look at the Fuji X-S1 lens sag first before you advocate upping the sensor size. The Pentax Q shows what can be done with a 1/2.3" sensor, pretty identical to the Canon G11 on DxOMark. It is the silly megapixels that are the problem. The 1/2.3" super zoom is a handy tool for many people and great fun to use.

Most reviewers say the Panasonic FZ150 is the camera to beat when it comes to IQ. The extras on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX200V will give me pause before buying the FZ150. That should drive down the Pany price.

Isn't it less than a year that the DSC-HX100V was released? And we have its successor in less than a year? There's must be some life-cycle-braking record somewhere... By the way, is there going to be a review of the DMC-FZ150 any time? It seems like the only worth considering camera in its class capable of RAW.

Compact camera makers are feeling the heat from smartphones, and zoom range is one way for them to try to stay relevant. Who needs 18MP? I don't know, but the new nokia phone has 41(!), so evidently the Sony marketing dept. is feeling pressure in the MP race too. These cameras might actually be better with 12MP instead of 18, but most customers aren't saavy enough to know that, so what is Sony to do? Sony Ericsson isn't exactly lighting up the smartphone sales charts. :)

Uh, I'm pretty sure these superzooms were conceived and conceptualized and developed long before they heard of the Nokia tech. The reaction to Nokia's newfangled tech would come months later, when the R&D people have put their heads together to think about their next products.

Besides which, Ericsson has actually left Sony to fend for themselves in the phone biz. :D